(a) The master, owner, agent, or operator of any ship or vessel shall pay the pilot who conducts a vessel into or out of the Bay or Harbor of Mobile a fee to be fixed by the State Pilotage Commission at the following rate for actual draft of water at the time of pilotage for every vessel crossing the outer bar of Mobile Bay: Effective January 1, 2010, the sum of thirty-one dollars ($31) per draft foot; effective January 1, 2014, the sum of thirty-three dollars ($33) per draft foot; effective January 1, 2015, the sum of thirty-five dollars ($35) per draft foot; and effective January 1, 2016, and thereafter, the sum of thirty-seven dollars ($37) per draft foot. The minimum pilot fee shall be computed on a minimum of 15 feet regardless of whether or not the vessel has a draft of less than 15 feet at the time of pilotage.
(b) In addition to the pilotage fee based on the draft of the vessel, there shall also be paid to the pilots the following pilotage fees for every vessel crossing the outer bar of Mobile Bay: Effective May 1, 2013, for each of the vessel's maximum registered gross tons, the sum of five cents ($0.050) per ton; effective January 1, 2014, the sum of five and one-half cents ($0.055) per ton; effective January 1, 2015, the sum of five and three-quarter cents ($0.0575) per ton; and effective January 1, 2016, and thereafter, the sum of six cents ($0.060) per ton. The minimum pilot fee shall be computed on a minimum of 6,500 maximum registered gross tons, regardless of whether or not the vessel has a maximum registered gross tonnage of less than 6,500 maximum registered gross tons.
(c) In addition to the foregoing fees, the State Pilotage Commission shall set fees for special services rendered by the pilots to vessels which are incidental to or connected with vessels being conducted into or out of the Bay or Harbor of Mobile which include, but are not limited to, docking and undocking, going on and off drydock, turning the vessel, shifting, anchorage and stand-by, and delayed sailing.
(d) Vessels trading between any domestic port on the Gulf of Mexico and the Port of Mobile, drawing seven feet or less of water shall not be required to employ a pilot, but if a pilot is employed, the regular pilotage shall be paid. No fishing smack shall be subject to pilotage.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 33 - Navigation and Watercourses.
Chapter 4 - Pilots and Pilotage.
Section 33-4-30 - Number of Pilots; Application, Examination and Certification Required for License.
Section 33-4-31 - Qualifications; Age Limitations for Apprentices.
Section 33-4-32 - Selection of Apprentices.
Section 33-4-33 - Apprentice Not to Be Discharged Except for Cause; Appeal of Discharge.
Section 33-4-35 - Examination and Certification Generally.
Section 33-4-36 - Apprentice Pilots Not Required to Take Second Examination.
Section 33-4-37 - Issuing Licenses; Possession and Exhibition of Licenses; Oath of Pilot.
Section 33-4-38 - Levy, Payment, and Disposition of Pilot's License Tax.
Section 33-4-39 - Bond of Pilot - Required; Amount; Conditions; Renewal.
Section 33-4-40 - Bond of Pilot - Preserving Bonds, etc.; New Bonds; Actions on Bonds; Liability.
Section 33-4-41 - Revocation or Suspension of License for Cause - Generally.
Section 33-4-43 - Revocation or Suspension of License for Cause - Witnesses' Fees and Mileage.
Section 33-4-45 - Revocation or Suspension of License for Cause - Hearings; Decision of Commission.
Section 33-4-46 - Grounds for Depriving Pilot of Branch.
Section 33-4-47 - Penalty for Acting Without License.
Section 33-4-48 - Pay of Pilots - Generally.
Section 33-4-49 - Pay of Pilots - Time of Payment.
Section 33-4-50 - Pay of Pilots - Fees of Pilots Detained on Vessels.
Section 33-4-51 - Pay of Pilots - No Discrimination or Rebating of Pilot's Fees.
Section 33-4-52 - Pay of Pilots - Exemptions From Payment of Pilot's Fees.
Section 33-4-53 - Compulsory Retirement of Bar Pilots.
Section 33-4-54 - Vessels Required to Take Pilots.
Section 33-4-55 - Pilot Boats Must Offer Services to Vessels Nearest Bar.
Section 33-4-56 - Delivery of Orders and Letters by Pilot.
Section 33-4-57 - Report of Unlawful Discharge of Ballast, Sweepings, Rubbish, etc., in Bay, Etc.